Slovenia, Coastal Town of Piran

From Trieste we set off to Piran, Slovenia for the day. We were trying a car service, GoOpti, which was new to us, and we were a bit apprehensive. Our arranged private transfer pick-up time came and went. As we stood waiting outside the train station, our anxiety grew. Then the driver arrived, 20 or so minutes late and very apologetic, lots of traffic he said.

Tartini Square with Bell Tower

Relieved to be on our way and grateful we were not catching a plane or on a strict schedule, we enjoyed our ride through the hills, across the border, and to the completely charming town of Piran.

With a mix of upscale clothing stores and tourist gift shops to our right, and the beautiful blue Adriatic to our left, we headed along the main road from the bus depot toward the town center.

View of Piran from the Cathedral

Piran’s main square, Tartini Square, was named after composer and violinist, Giuseppe Tartini. His statue stands with a watchful eye guarding his namesake square. Prior to 1894, the large square was once part of the town’s harbor. Having become polluted and unpleasant, the harbor was filled in; eventually producing the relaxing and traffic-free oasis it is today. We immediately settled right in with the locals to enjoy a nice, rich cup of coffee on this overcast and damp day.

Piran's Harbor

From the square the Bell Tower of St George looms in the distance. We began to make our way up to the Cathedral to take a closer look. On the way we passed the oldest house on the square, named the Venetian House. Legend has it that a wealthy Venetian merchant fell in love with a local girl and built her this home. When tongues started wagging, he expressed his indifference by mounting a plaque with the words “lassa pur dir” (let them talk).

Dating from the 14th century, the Cathedral of St George dominates the hill top. It is a large church in proportion to the town’s size. The interior is decorated in Venetian Renaissance and Baroque style. Fairly simple as catholic cathedrals go, it has an impressive, beautifully painted ceiling. If in the mood for a bit of a climb, it is possible to hike up the 146 steps of the bell tower for a terrific view. If lazy, like us, the grassy church terrace also rewards with a lovely view over the town to the water.

Waterfront Promenade

Back down the hill the harbor beckons. Boats bob up and down as though politely introducing themselves. It is a very scenic place to stroll.

Continuing to walk along the waterfront promenade, passing walls of large rocks holding back the surf, every now and then we would come across a whimsical etching carved in a rock or a mermaid perched upon another. The stretch is lined with enticing cafes to stop and relax, have a drink or a bite to eat, and enjoy that beautiful sea view. We had no choice but to join in and have some lunch.

A Bit of Piran Whimsy

We made our way back to the bus depot, stopping by a little shop to purchase a pretty hand-made blouse I had seen earlier. We don’t normally buy many items when we travel, but this was not only pretty, but quite unique. A nice memento of our day in Piran.

This time, our GoOpti driver arrived early and getting back to Trieste was a snap.

The weather that day was a bit dreary, but in no way did it dampen our enjoyment of this exquisite little coastal town.

The next day we were leaving Italy to stay in another Slovenian town, the capital city of Lljubljana.